BORN HULL 1862. WIFE MARY ANN (STRATTON) ABOVE. SON OF LATE JOHN C & ELIZABETH MANLEY. HULL MERCHANT NAVY RECORDS.
The MADAM RENEE passed half a mile off Scarborough Castle on a course N half W (Magnetic) at 8.30 a.m. Severn minutes later the track of a torpedo was seen coming from inshore on the port quarter. There was no time to manoeuvre, the torpedo struck the ship, broke her back and she sank immediately. The crew were flung into the water, 10 of the crew were not picked up, 7 of the crew were picked up by boats from Scarborough. The torpedo must have been fired from inside the bay North of Scarborough were the submarine must have been looking out under water. Had the periscope been above the water, it must have been seen from the promenade at Scarborough. It would appear that the torpedo was fired from inshore without the submarine showing her periscope. Master’s deposition states:- On Saturday the 10th August at 8.10 a.m. the ship was abreast of Scarborough North Bay about half a mile distance, making 5 knots. The Master and Chief officer on the bridge with the lamp trimmer at the wheel, a lookout forward and a gunner in attendance at the gun. Two other steamers were coming up astern and the weather was calm and clear. In these circumstances a torpedo was observed on the port beam about 10 or 15 yards distance. About 3 seconds later the vessel was struck abreast of No. 2 Hatch, blowing up the vessel immediately. She sank inside of 30 seconds. The Master found himself in the water. He saw the Chief Engineer and a fireman close to and swam to them: the 3 held on to a ladder for about half an hour and when they were picked up by the Motor Cobble YPRES of Scarborough. The cook, 2 sailors and a fireman were picked up by a passing steamer and transferred to the YPRES. After cruising about searching for the remainder of the crew without success, they were all landed at Scarborough by the YPRES at 9.a.m. The Chief Officer, 2nd Officer, 2nd Engineer, a steward, 3 gunners, lamp trimmer, a sailor and a donkeyman are missing, the Master thinks they must have being killed or drowned. Nothing was seen of the submarine. All ships papers except the route instructions which the Master carried in his pocket have been lost. ref. used:Carl Racey †, East Coast Shipwreck Research Carl Racey † 23/10/2009 Built as the THORDIS for A/S Thordis (T. Thommesen & Son ), Arendal; Yard No 41; Launch Date: 14/12/1904; The MADAM RENEE was on passage London to Tyne, with 580 tons of iron ore, when she was torpedoed and sunk by UB-30 at 8.37 a.m. The torpedo struck amidships on the port side, it boke her back and blew the vessel to pieces. She sank immediately; Crew of 17, 10 lives lost. ref. used:Carl Racey †, East Coast Shipwreck Research Allen Tony 26/06/2007 Madam Renee was 509grt and a defensively-armed steamer. On the 10 August 1918, 1 mile Nne from Scarborough, torpedoed without warning and sunk by submarine, 10 lives lost. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?10993
